Proposed rule; notice of 6-month extension of the deadline for a final critical habitat determination.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 2, 2011, proposing to revise critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and requesting information related to the proposed action. This document announces a 6-month extension of the deadline for a final determination on the proposed rule. Based on comments received during the public comment period, we find that substantial disagreement exists regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the data and analyses used to support the scope of the proposed critical habitat designation in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Accordingly, we are extending the deadline for the final revision to critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal an additional 6 months to further analyze data and consider concerns raised by State, Federal, and other entities, and better inform our determinations for the final revision of Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat under the ESA.

DATES: A final revision will be made no later than December 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The proposed rule, maps, and other materials relating to this proposal can be found on the NFMS Pacific Island Region's Web site at http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html.